These are the 10 U.S. metro areas in which it is the most difficult to get a job, out of the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas by population, According to a U.S. News analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and job search website Indeed.com:

Metropolitan Area Unemployment Rate Unemployed People per Job Posting

1. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. 13.9 3.75

2. Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev. 13.3 3.38

3. Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville, Calif. 12.7 3.1

4. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. (tie) 11.4 3.55

4. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Fla. (tie) 10.9 4.37

6. Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich. 11.8 2.99

7. Providence-Fall River-Warwick, R.I.-Mass. 11.9 2.25

8. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Fla. 10.4 2.42

9. Jacksonville, Fla. 10.2 2.58

10. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla. 11.0 2.18

Paul Forster, founder of online job aggregator Indeed.com, says while the job situation in the hardest-hit cities may appear bleak, the statistics have shown marked improvement over the last 12 months.

"Of the 10 cities with the most population per job posting, there are 62 percent more jobs on average than a year ago," says Forster, citing Miami as an example. In that city, the ratio of unemployed people to job postings in January was around 6:1. Now, that figure has dropped to just over 4:1.